• You are unable to work at least 50% of your scheduled work week because you're self-isolating for one of the following reasons:
  • You are sick with COVID-19 or may have COVID-19
  • You are advised to self-isolate due to COVID-19
  Who can advise you to self-isolate

  • your employer
  • a medical practitioner
  • a nurse practitioner
  • a person in authority
  • the government
  • your public health authority
  • You have an underlying health condition that puts you at greater risk of getting COVID-19.
  Who can advise you to stay at home due to your health condition

  • a medical practitioner
  • a nurse practitioner
  • a person in authority
  • the government
  • your public health authority
• You did not apply for or receive any of the following for the same period:
  • Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
  • Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
  • Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB)
  • Employment Insurance (EI) benefits
  • Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits
  • short-term disability benefits
• You reside in Canada
  Definition

  You live and have a home in Canada, but do not have to be a citizen or a permanent resident.

• You were present in Canada
• You are at least 15 years old
• You have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• You earned at least $5,000 in 2019, 2020, 2021, or in the 12 months before the date you apply from any of the following sources:
  • employment income (total or gross pay)
  • net self-employment income (after deducting expenses)
  • maternity and parental benefits from EI or similar QPIP benefits
  What counts towards the $5,000

  • Counts as income:
    • All employment or self-employment income, including:
      • tips
      • non-eligible dividends
      • honoraria (nominal amounts paid to volunteers)
      • royalties (payments to artists)
  • Does not count as income:
    • disability benefits
    • student loans, bursaries or scholarships
    • social assistance or family support payments
    • Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Québec Pension Plan (QPP), or other pension income
    • Old Age Security (OAS) payments
    • amounts from these COVID-19 benefits:
      • Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
      • Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)
      • Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
      • Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
      • Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
      • Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB)
• You are not receiving paid leave from your employer for the same period
• You were not self-isolating or in quarantine due to international travel
  Exceptions

  This does not apply to you if you were isolating because:

  • you travelled for medical treatment certified by a medical practitioner
  • you accompanied a person who is not able to travel without help from an attendant to get medical treatment certified by a medical practitioner
  • you are an essential worker who travelled for reasons normally exempt from quarantine when you return to Canada (such health care workers or truck drivers who need to cross the border for work) but were required to this time

  If one of these exceptions applies to you and you meet all other eligibility criteria, call the CRA to apply: 1-800-959-8281 (opens up phone application)1-800-959-8281

Note: Incarcerated individuals in prison or other institutions are not likely to meet all the above eligibility criteria. Those employed and on day parole may be eligible if all criteria are met.